Cupola



-Sept. 15, 1942; JONES 2,295,901

CUPOLA Filed May 31, 1941 5v Sheets-Sheet. l

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INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Sept. 15, 1942. V JONES 2,295,901

C UPOLA Filed May 31, 1941 5 Sheet s-Sheet 2 w FIG. 7

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IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

L. JONES 2,295,901

Sept. 15, 1942.

CUPOLA Filed May 31, 194i 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1942 Llewellyn Jones, Richmond, Ind., mine: of oneflfth to J. Allen Overcash, one-411th to Robert J.-Peters, and one-fifth to Herbert'G. Austin,

all of Muncie,'lnd.

Application May 31,1941, Serial No. 396,048 Claims. (Cl. 266-30) The principal object of the invention is a system for the recovery and reclamation of heated and unburned gases generated within a cupola and introducing the same into the cupola under blast for the reduction of ferrous and nonferrous metals.

Another object of the invention is a system in connetcion with cupolas whereby heated and unburned gases generated within the cupola are returned to the same to be burned thereby creating a saving in fuel and resulting in highertemperatures being attained within the cupola.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus providing means'whereby the reclamation of heated and unburned gases from a cupola is automaticallyaccomplished,

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus providing for the reclamation of heated and unburned gases from a cupola and conducting the same back into the cupola, and with means being provided in the apparatus for adjustably controlling the flow of gases from the cupola. V v

A still further object of the invention is the 1 provision of apparatus conducting heated and unburned gases from the upper portion of the cupola to the lower portion thereof, and with the heated gases being used for dehydrating air from an established blower before the air is introduced into the cupola.

The most satisfactory manner of carrying out the principles of the invention, and the apparatus for accomplishing the same, is shown in the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cupola with apparatus in connection therewith embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section through the mixing chamber of the apparatus, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail section, taken on lines 33 of Figures 1 and 4, through the upper conduit 1 and showing the slide member provided for adjustably increasing r decreasing the flow of unburned gases from the cupola.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a cupola similar to that shown in Figure 1, except with a modiiied mixing means being provided in, connection therewith.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical section through the adjustable slide member, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal section through the adjustable slide member, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 3.

I Figure 8 is a detail horizontal section, taken I on lines 8-8 of Figures 1 and 4, through the cupola and showing the voids formed in the upper portion of the wall of the cupola through which unburned gases are drawn from the eupola.

Figure 9 is a detail horizontal section, taken on lines 9-! of Figures 1 and 4, through the tuyeres formed through the lower portion of the cupola wall for the admittance of a mixture of blast air and recovered heated gases.

Like characters designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the advantages of the system for recovering unburned and heated gases, together with the apparatus therefor may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof.

In the drawings, l designates the outer casing of the cupola, the same being formed tubular in shape and positioned vertically on the supporting legs l5, and with the outer casing being lined with fire brick 2 in the, usual manner.

Tuyres 3 are formed through the lower portion of the cupola wall for the passage of air into the cupola for the purpose of combustion in the operation thereof. Voids 4 are formed through the wall of the cupola and are located therein at a level above the melting zone thereof. The Jacket 5 is formed around the lower portion of the cupola and encloses the tuyres 3, with a second jacket 6 being provided around the cupola and enclosing the same at the voids 4.

Referring now particularly to Figure l, the conduit 1 is provided for the purpose of conducting blast air from the pipe 9 into the jacket 5 and through the tuyeres 3, with the blast of air being produced by a remotely located established blower fan (not shown). It will be noted that the end portion of the pipe 9 extends into the end of the conduit 1 with the pipe 9 being of substantially less diameter than the diameter of the conduit 7 at its point of entry thereinto, thereby providing a space around the pipe in the conduit, with the relation of the pipe to the end of the conduit forming an injector within the mixing box 8 whichencloses the ends of the pipe 9 and the conduit 1. The conduit I0 is connected, at its upper end, into the upperjacket 6 and with its lower end being connected into the top of the mixing box 8. The box 8, in addition to its use as a mixing chamber, provides a'receptacle for fly ash or other foreign matter which may be drawn through the conduit .II from the upper portion of the cupola to the lower portion 1 ll next adjacent the jacket 5, being of greater thereof through the conduit in and the box I.

The member 13 is secured to the slide plate and provides means for operating the plate vertically in its guides [2.

The apparatus, as shown to that shown in Figure 1 except that the conduit III is extended into the blast'conduit H instead of being extended the top of a box. The conduit ill extends from the upper jacket 6 and downwardly into the blast conduit ll, with the end thereof being directed toward the cupola. A portion ll of the conduit I4 is reduced in diameter which increases the velocity of air passing therethrough'at the point of reduction. The end of the conduit I0 is reduced in diameter with the same terminating at the reduced portion ll of the conduit ll as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4.

A trough I6 is provided in connection with the cupola in alignment with the tap hole thereof, with the trough extending outwardly from the cupola and providing means for conducting .molten metal from the cupola to suitable containers.

in Figure 4, is similar thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the The upright member i1 is provided in connection with the cupola in the usual manner to support the bottom of the cupola when the same is being used, and provides a means for opening the bottom of the cupola for the removal of the contents thereof when desired.

In the operation of the cupola, the same is charged from the top. with alternate layers of fuel and metal ingredients in the usual manner.

The blast of air from a remotely located blower through the pipe 9 (Figure 1) passes therefrom into the conduit I and around the lower portion of the cupola in the jacket 5 and enters the cupola through the tuyeres 3 and provides a forced draft therein for the combustion of fuel. A certain amount of gas is produced within the cupola in the process of smelting iron, with the gas rising to the upper portion of the cupola. The passage of air from the end of pipe 9 into .the end of the conduit 1 produces a syphon effect within the mixing box 8 with the syphon causing the heated and unburned gases in the upper portion of the cupola to be drawn therefrom through the voids 4 and into the jacket 8, after which it is drawn through the conduit l0 into the mixing box 8 and into the conduit I through the space formed around the end of pipe 9. Fly ash or other foreign matter drawn from the upper portion of the cupola through the conduit in will fall to the bottom of the box I upon its entrance ther'einto. Suitable means may be provided for the removal of accumulated foreign material from the box.

In the operation of the cupola in connection with the modification of the apparatus as shown in Figure 4, the heated and unburned gas is drawn from the upper portion of the cupola by the syphon effect caused by the passage of air through the conduit l4 into the reduced portion it around the reduced end iii of the conduit Ill. The reduced portion i4 tends to increase the velocity of air in its passage therethrough fromthe remotely located blower. The conduit The volume of gases and heated air drawn from the upper portion of the cupola is controlled through adjustment of the slide plate ll located in the conduit It.

The air which is forced into the lower portion of the cupola, under conventional operation, contains moisture, the amount of which varies with the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. In the system provided herein, the moisture content of the air from the blower is reduced to nil by the introduction of heated air or gases from the upper portion of the cupola into the air passing into the lower portion of the cupola. It is well known that moisture carried into the cupola in the blast air stream causes inferior qualities of iron and steel.

In addition to the dehydration of air introduced into the cupola, the system provides for preheating of the air before the same reaches the cupola, resulting in the saving of fuel and attainment of higher temperatures in the cupola than can be obtained by conventional systems.

I desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited to the specific apparatus and to the exact arrangement of the same as shown and described, but that minor changes may be made invention insofar as the changes may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully shown and described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a cupola, a series of tuyeres formed through the lower portion of the wall thereof, a

jacket encircling the lower portion of the cupola and enclosing the tuyeres, a plurality of voids formed through the upper portion of the cupola wall with an upper jacket encircling the upper portion of the cupola'and the voids formed therethrough, a mixing box, a conduit extending from the mixing box into the lower jacket, a second conduit connected with and extending from the upper jacket to the mixing box and adapted to conduct heated gases from the upper portion of the cupola into the mixing box, a blast air pipe extending from an established blower into the mixing box with its outlet end being located within the first-mentioned conduit, and with the exchange of air from the blast air pipe to the first-mentioned conduit syphoning heated air and gases from within the mixing box and introducing the same into the lower portion of the cupola through the tuyeres thereof.

2. In combination with a cupola having voids formed through the upper portion thereof and tuyeres formed through the lower portion thereof, a mixing box positioned adjacent the-cupola, an upper jacket enclosing the voids, an upper conduit connecting the upper jacket with the cupola and enclosing the upper portion of the cupola through the voids, the upper jacket, and the upper conduit into the mixing box from which it is drawn and forced through the lower conduit, the lower Jacket, and the tuyeres, into the lower portion 01' the cupola under blast pressure. 1

3. In combination with a cupola having tuyeres formed through the lower portion thereof and with voids being formed through the upper portion, a lower, jacket formed aroundthe the tuyeres, an upper jacket cupola and enclosing the voids, a mixing box connected with the lower jacket by means of a lower conduit, an upper conduit extending from-the upper jacket to the mixing box providing means carrying heated air and gases from the upper jacket into the mixing box, and a blast air pipe extending from a blower unit through the mixing box with the outlet end thereof extending into the end of the lower conduit with the passage of blast air from the blast air pipe into the lower conduit drawing heated air and gases from the upper portion of the cupola through the voids and the upper Jacket into the upper conduit and into the mixing box and thence into the lower portion of the cupola through the lower conduit, the lower formed around the jacket, and the tuyeres, means located in theupper conduit adjustably controlling the volume of heated air and gases being drawn from the upper portion of the cupola.

4. In a cupola, means providing for theutilization of heated air and gases produced therein, said means comprising the combination of a jacket encircling the upper portion of the cupola with voids being formed through the cupola and interconnecting the cupola with the jacket, a

mixing box, a conduit connecting the upper jacket with the mixing box, means provided in the conduit controlling the passage of air and gases therethrough, a second jacket formed around the lower portion of the cupola, a plurality of tuyeres connecting the interior of the lower portion of the cupola with the second jacket, a second conduit connected into and extending between the mixing box and the second jacket, and with a blast air pipe extending from a blower into the mixing box end of the second conduit with thepassage of blast air from the blast pipe into the second conduit drawing heated air from the mixing box conducted thereinto from the upper portion of the cupola through the first-mentioned conduit, with the mixture of blast air and heated air being forced through the second conduit and the second jacket into the lower portion of the cupola through the tuyres.

5. In combination with a cupola having tuyeres formed therein and with a jacket forming a common communication to the tuyeres, a mixing box connected to the jacket by means oi a conduit, a second conduit opening into the mixing box and carrying heated air and gases thereinto, a blast air pipe extending into the mixing box with the end thereof being of less diamter than the first-mentioned conduit and extending thereinto with the passage of blast air from the blast air pipe drawing heated air and gases through the second conduit into the mixing box and thence into the first-mentioned conduit from which the same is forced into the cupola through the Jacket and the tuyres.

ILEWELLYN JONES. 

